Machine for washing fibrous or loose material.



No. 655,7l7. Patented Aug. l4, |90D..

E'. KUPPELMANN. cums F 0B wnsnms FIBBUUS on LOOSE MATERIAL.

(Appliltinn filed Apr. 14, 1900.) I (No Iodol.) I 3 Shoots-SheatlWITNESSES: v INVENTOHV No. 655,717. Patented Aug. l4, I900,

E. KflPPELMAM.

MACHINE FOB WASHING FIBBUUS 0B LOOSE MATERIAL. (A umionmed Apr. 14,1900.

(No Model.) 3 sums-sheet 2.

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as 7' WlT/VfSSES; INVENTOH I @M Q% r Y 7 ATTORNEY No. 655;7I7. PatentedAug. I4, 1900.

I E. KUPPELMANN,

IAGHIHE FOR WASHING'FIBBOUS 0R LOOSE. MATERIAL.

(PM fllad Apr. 14, 1900.)

(in; pun. 1 s Sheets-Sheet a,

w/TNEssEs.-- INVENTOR following is a specification.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

EUGENE KoPPELMAnN, on NEW YORK, a Y.

MACHINE Fo WASHING rl euous oa LOOSE MATERlAL.

SPZEGIIEIt'JA ".IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 65 5,717, datedAugust 14,- 1900.

Application filed Aprl114,;1900. Berislll'o.12,81 0. (Remodel).

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, EUGENE KdPPELMANN,

a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of .the cityof New York, borough of Bronx, county of New York, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines forWashing Fibrous or Loose Material, of which the My invention relates tothat class of apparatus generally used by brewers and otherestablishments for the washing and cleansing of pulp. and othermaterials used in filters for the purpose of straining malt orspirituous liquors. I

It is the custom in brewingmaltous liquors immediately before shipmentto strain the liquor as it comes from. the storage-casks through filtersunder pressure in order to clarify it and remove any sediment or otherimpurities resultant from the brew of the same. This is done by passingthe beer or other liquor through filters, in which are placedlayers ofpulp, consisting-0f fibrous material, either cotton, wood, or any othersuitable fiber closely packed,which pulp is designed to catch saidimpurities and to strain and filter the liquor when it is forced throughthe same by pressure. The pulp after frequent use must be washed andthoroughly cleaned, as it becomes slimy and saturated with'theimpurities coming from the liquors, after which it can be replaced inthe filters for further use. I

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for the purpose ofthoroughly and properly cleansing the pulp or filter mass after use andin suchamanner as to not in any way injure the saine orimpair itsusefulness.

I have illustrated myinvention by the accompanying drawings, in whichlike letters refer to like parts throughout the various figures.

, t Figure I IS a side eleyation ofmy apparatus.

.50 View of the lug a Fig. IV, of the casting,

Fig. II is a top plan view of Fig. I. Fig. III is a longitudinal sectionof Fig. I, taken on the line 00 00. .Fig. IV is a cross-section,ofcasting A, taken on the line at as of Fig. III.

Fig. V is a longitudinal" section showing the contents of the tank. Fig.VI is a sectional 'areprovided to strengthen the sieve.

taken on the line 51: w Fig. VI I is a cross section of the spreader.

My apparatus consists of a large cylindrical tank supported on astandard or each base as may .be convenient to construct and 'prolugs aoff, Figs. I, III, and IV, near the bottoni edge, whioh lugs extend fromthe exterior to the interior of the casting and penetrate the shell in asubstantially-tangential direc tion. At the bottom of the casting A andforming an integral part of the same is 3. rectangular box-like chambera". A is also cast with a shoulder a extending around the upper-edge ofthe same,'and a shoulder a at the top of the box a.

The lugs a a are bored longitudinally, Fig.

VI, and obliquely, forming two exterior ports d: and c and one at acommon interior port a suflicient directive force to the currentspassing through the same. The ports (1 and e are threaded with a femalescrew toconnect with piping systems, as hereinafter described. The box ais supplied with a port a in one of its ends, to which is connected thepipe 0 a is also supplied with a spreader F, mount- These lugs are ofsuch length as will give ed in its interior.- This spreader F consistsof a fork-shaped pipe with three prongs and closed ends. It is fed froma common supply-pipe f and connected with the piping systems hereinafterdescribed. A large number of small ports are bored through the pipes,forming the spreader at an angle to the perpendicular diameter of thepipes, Fig.VII,- and extending longitudinally along its sides. Fittedacross the top of the box and resting upon ashoulder a. is a rectangularsieve a, made of steel, brass, or copper wire or other suitable materialof such mesh as will allow the free passage and circulation of water andstill confine the media. The supports c tl'ig" spreader F is mounted asclose to the bottom of the sieve as possible. Mounted on the shoulder aof the base A r 2 ass-.717

is a cylindrical shell B, of sheet-iron or-otherl suitable material. Atthe bottom of B is soldered or riveted the angle-iron b", for thepurpose of securing B to the base A, as shown in Fig. I. At the top of-B' an angle-iron or shoulder b is also provided for the purpose ofstrengthening the cylinder 13 and securing the sieve b in place byclamps, as hereinafter described. Around the interior of the cylinder Babout midway between the top and bottom is mounted the angle-iron 1)".Di-

rectly above this angle-iron are situated the ports b b and near the topof thetank the ports b r .The tank is provided with a cylindrical sieveb of a diameter somewhat'less than the py ite clamps 12 b adjusted andsecured by thefbolts b and b to the shoulder b.

- The systems of piping the apparatus are described as follows: Thereare three sys- Qe'tns first, the supply of hot and cold water and steam;-second,-theair-supply, and, third,

D, Figs. *I and II, is apipe extending around the tank and fed by thepipe D-(steam) and I), (water, hot or cold,) coming from any or-"d-iiiary sou rce of supply. At as many differ- "cut points as there arelugs, Figs. II to IV, are 'plaeeutne pipes (1 0?, connecting the pipe DWiththe lower ports of the lugs d d and in a manner-as to direct thewater, air, steam,

-'&o., iutothe tank substantially tangential to the interior surface ofthe same. The pipes 'd 'd a're provided with valves (1 to regulatethesuipply. The pipes D D each have valves 'd d to govern the same. insimilar system and consists of the pipe e,

The air-supply is extending around. the tank, the connections "e wi-ththe upper ports 8 e of the lugs a a. -and-with the valve e and are fedby the air- E, governed by the valve e", E being supplied from acompressor or any other suitable source. Each of the systems D and e areconnected with the spreader F by the pipes d -and-e and provided withsuitable valves.

The valves are all situated near the ports e and d so as to regulate thesupply at each port when necessary to secure uniform pressure in theinterior of the tank. Near the top of'the tank, at the ports b b areconnected I the pipes, c 0', controlled by the valves 0 c 't'o'take or:the overflow and at the ports I) b the pipes c 'c to take olf such dirtywater which may rise to the top of the tank. At

-the bottom of the tank-and connected with the port (for the box a) isthe pipe C and valve 0 to drain 0E and remove all the water in the tankwhenever the same may be necessary in order that the material treatedmay be removed in as drya condition as possible.

It is often necessary to use steam, 'air, and hot water to cleanse'theupper sieve, and for this purpose the pipes c are connected with thesupply-pipes D and e by the pipes d and 6', each provided with a valve(1 and e",

The bottom of the base is provided with a door (1*, suitably securedwith screws a so as to be easily removed whenever the washing isfinished and the material is to be withdrawn.

The operation of my apparatus. is as follows: I place the pulp to becleaned in the tank A. I turn on the valves supplying the cold water andair to the por'tscl d and e (3*, which soon causes the mass 'to whirlrapidly and become agitated and ebullient, resulting from the tangentialpressures from the diflerent ports. At the same time the pressure isturned on from the pipe d e and into the spreader-F, Fig. -V, thispressure exerts itself directly upward and outward through the sieve andacts upon the base of the.fil'ter mass in the tank, permeates the same,and lends its aid in making the mass turbulent and agitated. The actionof the airand water from the difie'r'ent ports is substantially asfollows: The side ports being situated tangential to the side of thefilter mass will causethe same to take a revoluble motion around theinside of the tankaud force the 'media toward the center of the same,while the upward pressure of the air coming from the spreader below thesieve a will act directly upon the center'of the media and force itupward and outward to the side, where it comes again into the field ofpressure from the side ports, Fig. V. In this way'a constant motion isgiven tothe filter mass andthe same is kept violently agitatedanddisturbed. The mass before t-his introduction being completelysaturated with slime and impurities from the beer must be well soaked,and cold water is allowed to flow until the pulp is in proper condition.The foul or dirty water is forced to the top and'flows oft continuallythrough the pipes c c and also through the pipes c a, when necessary.The foul water having free circulation through the sieve b and'in theannular chamber between the sieve and tank'may be easily drawn offwithout any of the pulp or fiber. The cold water is turned 0E and eitherhot water or steam may be introduced by turning valves d for amore'thorough cleansing of the stuff in the same manner and with thesame whirling and ebullient effect. As many ports in the bottom and sideof the tank may be used as may be practicable to the size and efliciencyof each apparatus. Theair-pressure maybe varied according to thecircumstances and the quantity desired in each instance. When the filtermass is thoroughly cleaned, the valves are all closed, the waterremaining in the tank is removed through thedoor a.

is dra'wh oil through the pipe and the mass Sometimes the sieves becomecoated with slime, and for able valves d e and connected with c c arethe purpose of cleaning the same while in use means are providedthroughthe pipes c c for blowing steam, water, and air intothe tank from thebackof the sieve, and thus removing the slime therefrom. The pipes d(water and steam).and a, .(air,) with suiting arms mounted in a tank tokeep the mass in agitation; but this has been found'to injure the' fiberand cause the material used to become lumpy and hard after cleaning. Inmy apparatus the complete agitation in every direction, together withthe ebullient character of the same directly resulting from theintroduction of air under pressure, keeps the fibrous material fromlumping, and while thoroughly cleansing each particular fiber keeps thesame separated from each other and when removed from the tank the sameis soft and in good condition for reuse.

It will be noticed that the fundamental principle upon which thisapparatus is operated is a violent agitation of the material tobetreatedwhile the same is contained in the vessel and the use of steam,air, and water underpressure in order to efiect that result. Thepressure to be used is notconstant, but necessarilyvaries with the sizeof the vessel, the condition andquality of the material treated, and thetime .in which it may be necessary to treat or clean the stuff. Theapparatus has therefore been supplied with sufficient number of valvesto regulate this pressure at difierent points of the same and needadjustment until the proper results are obtained. It is also evidentthat in order to procure the best eifects the interior of the tank mustbe free from any obstruction to which the media may cling or which mayreduce the eifects of the pressure introduced through the various-ports.

I am aware that prior to my invention filters have been invented andused with the apparatus connected therewith for applying air and Waterto cleanse and purify the bed of the filter while in use in such filter,and I do not claim the application of my invention to any filter orfiltering apparatus while the same is in use as such.

What I claim, and desire to secure by "Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, isi 1. An apparatus for cleaniu gloose material, consisting of atank with a free and unobstructed interior and systems of piping connected with ports in said tank and said systems and ports so arranged asto introduce air, water or steam into said tank, under such pressure,quantity and in such a manner as to cause the contents of the tank tobecome r'apidly'and violently agitated.

. 2. An apparatus for washing loose material consistin ofa tank andsystems of piping? connected therewith tangentially and perpendicularlyarranged, for supplying air, water, hot water or steam underpressure,through the tank and in a manner to cause the contents of saidtank to whirl and become rapidly agitated. I

3. An apparatus for cleaning loose material,

consisting ofa tank provided with a cylindrical sieve mounted in itsinterior, a sieve mounted in its bottom, means for supplying underpressure, either water, air, steam or all of them, through ports in itsside, and portsconnected with the bottom of said tank, and means fordrawing ofif foul water.

4. Anapparatus for cleaning loose material, consisting of a tankprovided with sieves, and means for supplying pressure tosaid tankeither of water, air, steam, or all of them,

through ports in its sides tangentially ar ranged, and means for drawingon? the foul water. m

5. An apparatus for cleaning loose material,

consisting of a tank provided with a cylind'ri'cal sieve mounted in itsinterior, a sieve mounted in its bottom, and means for supplying underpressure, either water, air, steam or all of them through'ports in itssides tan gentially arranged, and also through ports directly underneaththe sieve in the bottom of the tank.

6. An apparatus for cleaning loose material, consisting of a cylindricaltank provided with a cylindrical sieve mounted in 1ts interior, a

sieve mounted in its bottom, a chamber under neath said bottom sieve,and means for supplying pressure either of water, air, steam or i all ofthem through ports in its sides, and ports in said chamber, togetherwith means for drawing oif the foul water.

7. An apparatus for cleaning loose material consistingof a tank providedwith a cylindrical sieve mounted in its interior, a sieve mounted in itsbottom, a chamber underneath said sieve in which is mounted a spreader,directly connected with" a pipe supplying steam and air or both of themunder pressure,

and means for supplying pressure either of water, air, steam, orall ofthem through ports in the sides of said tank and ports in the bottom andports in the chamber, together with means for drawing off the foulwater.

. 8. An apparatus for cleaningloose material,

which consists of a cylindrical tank, provided with a cylindrical sievemounted in its interior, a sieve mounted inits bottom, a door openinginto the lower part of said tank, a chamber underneath said bottom sievein which is mounted a spreader directly counected with a pipe containingair and steam, or either of them under pressure, and systems of pipingprovided with suitable valves 4 w j mw connected with ports tangentiallyarranged to the eylindrical sieve for the purpose of in the sifies ofthe tank, near the bottom to; drawing-0E6 the fonl water. to the same,and systems if-piping with suit- Signed at New York city, New York, thisable valves connected with the chamber un- 7th day of Marsh, 1900.

i 5 demeath the tank} said systems adapted to EUGENE KUPPELMANN;

supplying air, water and steam or either of v Witnesses: them to thetank, and systems of piping pro- LE'WIS S. GOEBEL, JL,

vided with suitable valves situated adjacent GEORGE M. S. Seam-z;

